China is confronting an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus primarily in Guangdong Province, where over 7,700 cases have been reported since mid-June. The city of Foshan, a core area of the outbreak, has seen a decline in new daily cases for eight consecutive days, with 1,387 new cases recorded from August 3 to 9, down from nearly 3,000 weekly cases in previous weeks. Authorities have implemented extensive measures reminiscent of COVID-19 restrictions, including deploying mosquito-eating fish, insecticide spraying, drone surveillance, installation of mosquito nets in drainage systems, and public health campaigns across cities such as Foshan, Zhongshan, and Zhanjiang. Hong Kong has reported five imported chikungunya cases amid warnings of rising risks in Asia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for China due to the outbreak. Chinese scientists have also developed an intelligent vector mosquito surveillance system to enhance disease control efforts. Despite the outbreak, officials report that more than 90% of patients in Foshan have recovered, and containment efforts are showing early signs of success. The virus, which causes fever, joint pain, and rash, is transmitted by mosquito bites and is not spread person-to-person. The World Health Organization has warned globally about the spread of chikungunya, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Nearly 8000 people in southern China have fallen ill with chikungunya since mid-June, although the outbreak seems to have plateaued after a battle to contain it https://t.co/LGc0H7tXjH
La provincia china de Cantón registra caída de casos de chikunguña tras brote en julio https://t.co/fi8MUrTcjj
Bangladesh is experiencing a surge in dengue cases and deaths, with health experts warning that August could bring an even more severe outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease if urgent action is not taken. https://t.co/1P2uVWHDQ2 https://t.co/1P2uVWHDQ2